Vaccinations:Hepatitis-A Alert

[Guest guest]

More garbage.........

Sheri

Immunization Newsbriefs

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March 30, 2001

" Hepatitis-A Alert "

Parents (www.parents.com) (03/01) Vol. 76, No. 3, P. 66;

Kuzemchak, Sally

Hepatitis A, a contagious intestinal virus, is a public health

problem, particularly for 17 states in the West. While the virus

causes only mild flu-like symptoms in children, infection can

result in serious liver problems for adults who contract

hepatitis A. According to the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, all children living in Alaska, Arizona, California,

Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah,

and Washington should be routinely vaccinated against the virus.

The two-shot series should also be considered for children in

states with intermediate levels of disease: Arkansas, Colorado,

Montana, Missouri, Texas, and Wyoming. Measures that can help

reduce the risk of hepatitis A infection include washing your

hands frequently, particularly after changing diapers or using

the bathroom, and also before meals.

*******

From , a NVIC stateleader

I learned quite a bit about hepatitis A from reading the ACIP recommendation

for hepatitis A vaccine --

http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr4812a1.htm

I already knew that 70% of kids who get hepatitis A are asymptomatic, but I

didn't realize that concentrations of antibody by vaccination are 10 to 100

fold lower than those produced after natural infection. The diagnostic

assays to measure lower levels of antibody had not been reviewed by the FDA

as of 10 - 99 when this report was published. The absolute lower limit of

antibody required to prevent HAV has not been defined.

The ACIP paper also said that: infants with passively acquired maternal

antibody have reduced GMC's (geometric mean antibody concentrations) after

vaccination.

This paper also states: Several studies are being conducted among infants and

young children to evaluate whether simultaneous administration of hepatitis A

with other vaccines affects the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of these

vaccines.

This means that the recommendation came out before the studies were done!!!

Anyone in a state or county that is considering mandating hepatitis A should

read this.

--------------------------------------------------------

Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & UK

530-478-1242 Voicemail

http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccine.htm

" All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men ( &

women) do nothing " ...Edmund Burke

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